The letter, from Ng Qi Siang, begins: “I am heartened by the news of Pioneer Junior College's Ms Natasha Ann Lum's receipt of the President's Scholarship ("Discarding the 'top school' mentality"; Monday). However, such stories are the exception rather than the norm. Educational inequality is still an obstacle to talented students in neighborhood schools obtaining success. Government scholarships are granted to students based not only on their ability to do well in examinations, but also their ability to think critically.”

The letter continues: “This ability to think critically is not something common to students in all schools. A recent study by the National Institute of Education's Leonel Lim and the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Michael W. Apple revealed pedagogical inequalities in Singapore schools.”

The research being referenced is titled, “Elite rationalities and curricular form: ‘Meritorious’ class reproduction in the elite thinking curriculum in Singapore.” It can be viewed here.